READING

Ever since grade school, I have been in the habit of reading one book per month. I read six books during summer vacation while in grade school. Now it is a regular part of my life. This month, I read two books. I have a friend who read twenty-six books in a year. Reading is a lifelong habit as natural as breathing. I read different genres because it broadens my world. I become exposed to different styles of writing. I instruct GED students to read and write about what they read. It helps them in the areas of comprehension and critical thinking. I encourage them to use the dictionary to look up words that are unfamilar. It's a great feeling to discuss a book you just read.

MOVIES

What is your favorite movie and why?

WORD OF THE DAY

ARRANT

Being notoriously without moderation :extreme

WORD OF THE DAY

ZEITGEIST The general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.

WORD OF THE DAY

PREPONDERATE 1. To exceed in weight 2. To exceed in influence, power, or importance. 3. To exceed in numbers

WRITING AND READING

Writing and reading go hand in hand. If either is out of balance, communication and comprehension is lost or misunderstood. If a person reads well but has sub par writing skills, they will have difficulty writing what they really want to say. If the person does not read well, they will struggle academically and in the workplace. They are literacy programs that will help improve reading and writing skills. I am a tutor for a literary program for adults. I have worked with folks who don't read and write well or not at all. I have witnessed the joy of people reading their first book or reciting their first piece of writing. Don't feel you are dumb because you can't read or write. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Learning or improving your writing and reading benefits you and future generations.

AUTHORS

If horror is your favorite genre, here is a list of some authors who write horror stories. Thomas Mann Heinrich von Kleist Marquis de Sade Harold Pinter Edward Albee ETA Hoffman James Joyce Nathaniel Hawthorne Edgar Allan Poe Stephen King

WORD OF THE DAY

CONNIVANCE The act of conniving; especially: knowledge of and active or passive consent to wrongdoing.

WORD OF THE DAY

TRANSCENDENT 1. Exceeding usual limits; surpassing b. extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience. 2. Being beyond comprehension.

WORD OF THE DAY

SOLILOQUY

1.The act of talking to oneself.

2. A dramatic monologue that gives the illusion of being a series of unspoken reflections.

WRITING AS THERAPY

There are days when life can be overwhelming. The daily grind of making a living binds us up inside. When I write my feelings on paper or blog, the tension is dissipated. It is also during times of duress where some of my best writing has been written. I encourage students that I tutor to write down what they feel. It relaxes them and I learn about how they are ticking. It also strengthens their writing and communication skills. Carrying burdens and frustrations inside can lead to depression, anger and hopelessness of never seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. What I'm saying is write to your heart's content. Get all that anger and frustration out. You'll feel better for doing so, physically and emotionally.

WORD OF THE DAY

CAVEAT 1. A warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices; an explanation to prevent misrepresentation. 2. A legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing.

NECESSITIES

Five things I cannot do without: my books, writing materials, laptop, my bed, a beverage.

WORD OF THE DAY

PHOTOGENIC


1. Produced or precipitated by light. Ex. photogenic dermatitis

2. Producing or generating light. Ex. photogenic bacteria

3. Suitable for being photographed. Ex. photogenic smile

WORD OF THE DAY

INGRESS 1. The act of entering; entrance 2. The power or liberty of entrance or access.

WORD OF THE DAY

DIMINUTIVE 1. Extremely small in size; tiny 2. A very small person or thing

BOOK

I have been reading 'Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe'. It's not a quick read in that I have to really focus on each paragraph. Poe was knowledgeable about England and France. I'm amazed by his description of buildings, castles and other structures in those countries. He made you feel that you were right there beside him. To me, that one of the traits of a great writer. Poe's state of mind was between delirium and insanity. He may have been on drugs or alcohol, but he sure had the understanding of a psyche in distress and turmoil in the protagonists of his stories.

Greeting, once again. Over the next few months, I will seeing movies (some new, some not) which I will critique. Also will share some of my writing with you. I have been gathering some material and will blog more often. There's much to do but I look forward to it.